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D22 10.5885/45400AW-9891BD76704C4CE2 Published
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Lemming monitoring on Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada

Gilles Gauthier1 & Dominique Fauteux1,2
1 Département de biologie & Centre d'études nordiques , Université Laval
2 Arctic Centre, Canadian Museum of Nature

Dominique Fauteux (dfauteux@nature.ca)

Abstract

Lemming abundance and demography are monitored using three methods:
  1. Capture by snap trapping was done using Museum Special traps at three sites during the summer from mid-July to early August from 1994 to 2019. At least 500 trap-nights were cumulated annually at each site. From 1994 to 2006, there were 50 trapping stations with one trap per station and trapping sessions lasted for 10 or 11 consecutive days. Trapping stations were spaced out every 10 m along two or more parallel trapping lines separated by 100 m (Gruyer et al. 2008). The sampling protocol was changed in 2007. There were 80 trapping stations (except in 2007 and 2008 when there were only 68 stations) with three traps per station and trapping sessions last for 3 or 4 consecutive days. Each trapping stations were spaced out every 15 m along two or more parallel trapping lines which were separated by 100 m (Fauteux et al. 2018). All captured animals were identified at the species level.

  2. Capture-mark-recapture by live trapping animals is conducted using Longworth traps on three grids, one of 7 ha (96 to 100 traps depending of the year) and two of 11 ha (144 traps; from 2004 to 2005, only 7 ha and 100 traps)), in wetland (one grid) and mesic (two grids) habitats since 2004. Traps are positioned in a Cartesian plane and spaced out every 30 m. Traps are checked every 12 hrs during trapping sessions that last three consecutive days (4 or 5 days in 2004 to 2007) and which are repeated three times (four times in 2005 to 2007) during the summer from mid-June to mid-August. From 2015 to 2019, three additional grids of 7 ha (96 to 100 traps/grid) were added in mixed habitat (wetland and mesic). Those three grids were monitored for only one trapping session in mi-July. The species, age (juvenile or adult, based on body mass), sex and reproductive condition of captured animals is determined (for more details, see Gruyer et al. 2010, Bilodeau et al. 2013 and Fauteux et al. 2018).

    One of the live-trapping grids in mesic habitat (the one of 7 ha) was subjected to various experimental manipulations. From 2007 to 2011, snow fences were used to enhance snow depth to determine its effect on lemming abundance and distribution.  Snow fences (1.3 m high) were erected in six rows of fencing 270 m-long each and perpendicular to the prevailing wind (spacing varied between 30 and 50 m). Since 2013, this grid is used for a predator control experiment. Until 2022, all terrestrial and avian predators (except ermine) were excluded by a 1.3 to 2-m high fence made of chicken wire surrounding the grid and covered by criss-crossing fishing line spaced every 50 cm on top. Since 2023, only foxes are excluded from this grid.

  3. Lemming winter nests are surveyed after snowmelt in early July using the line transect method since 2007. Each transect is permanent (since 2009), is 500 m long and is randomly located within each habitat. A total of 60 line transects were surveyed in wetlands, mesic tundra and streams in mesic tundra (20 transects/habitat) between 2009 and 2014. In 2007 and 2008, the number of transects were 75 (25 per habitat) and 30 (10 per habitat), respectively. Between 2015 and 2019, several line transects were added to increase the spatial coverage of the monitoring. However, due to logistical constraints, not all transects are surveyed every year). Furthermore, since 2023, transects in wetlands are no longer surveyed. The exact position of each nest found along the transect is recorded. In addition, each spring, all winter nests are systematically counted on three live trapping grids by walking parallel lines 10 m apart. Winter nests found opportunistically are also collected in years of low lemming abundance.  All nests are dissected to determine the lemming species using it, reproductive activity and signs of predation (for more details, see Duchesne et al. 2011a, b and Fauteux et al. 2018).

Data citation

Gauthier, G. & Fauteux, D. 2026. Lemming monitoring on Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada, v. 1.4. Nordicana D22, doi: 10.5885/45400AW-9891BD76704C4CE2.

Location map

Key references

  • Duchesne, D., G. Gauthier & D. Berteaux. 2011a. Evaluation of a method to determine the breeding activity of lemmings in their winter nests. Journal of Mammalogy, 92: 511-516
    DOI: 10.1644/10-MAMM-A-279.1
  • Duchesne, D., G. Gauthier & D. Berteaux. 2011b. Habitat selection, reproduction and predation of wintering lemmings in the Arctic. Oecologia, 167: 967-980
    DOI: 10.1007/s00442-011-2045-6
  • Krebs, C.J., F. Bilodeau, D. Reid, G. Gauthier, A.J. Kenney, S. Gilbert, D. Duchesne & D.J. Wilson. 2012. Are lemming winter nest counts a good index of population density? Journal of Mammalogy, 93: 97-92
    DOI: 10.1644/11-MAMM-A-137.1
  • Reid, D., F. Bilodeau, C.J. Krebs, G. Gauthier, A.J. Kenney, B. S. Gilbert, M.C.Y. Leung, D. Duchesne & E. Hofer. 2012. Lemming winter habitat choice: a snow-fencing experiment. Oecologia, 168: 935–946
    DOI: 10.1007/s00442-011-2167-x
  • Bilodeau, F., G. Gauthier & D. Berteaux. 2013. Effect of snow cover on the vulnerability of lemmings to mammalian predators in the Canadian Arctic. Journal of Mammalogy, 94: 813-819
    DOI: 10.1644/12-MAMM-A-260.1
  • Gruyer, N., G. Gauthier & D. Berteaux. 2010. Demography of two lemming species on Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada. Polar Biology, 33: 725-736
    DOI: 10.1007/s00300-009-0746-7
  • Bilodeau, F., D. Reid, G. Gauthier, C.J. Krebs, D. Berteaux & A. Kenney. 2013. Demographic response of tundra small mammals to a snow fencing experiment. Oikos, 122: 1167-1176
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.00220.x
  • Fauteux, D., G. Gauthier & D. Berteaux. 2015. Seasonal demography of a cyclic lemming population in the Canadian Arctic. Journal of Animal Ecology 84:1412-1422
    DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12385
  • Fauteux, D., G. Gauthier & D. Berteaux. 2016. Top-down limitation of lemmings revealed by experimental reduction of predators. Ecology 97: 3231-3241
    DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1570
  • Fauteux, D., G. Gauthier, D. Berteaux, R. Palme & R. Boonstra. 2018. High Arctic lemmings remain reproductively active under predator‑induced elevated stress. Oecologia 187:657-666
    DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4140-4
  • Fauteux, D., G. Gauthier, G. Slevan-Tremblay & D. Berteaux. 2018. Life in the fast lane: learning from the rare multi-year recaptures of brown lemmings in the High Arctic. Arctic Science 4:146-151
    DOI: 10.1139/as-2017-0017
  • Fauteux, D., G. Gauthier, M. Mazerolle, N. Coallier, J. Bêty & D. Berteaux. 2018. Evaluation of invasive and non-invasive methods to monitor rodent abundance in the Arctic. Ecosphere 9: e02124
    DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2124
  • Domine, F., G. Gauthier, V. Vionnet, D. Fauteux, M. Dumont & M. Barrère. 2018. Snow physical properties may be a significant determinant of lemming population dynamics in the high Arctic. Arctic Science 4:813-826
    DOI: 10.1139/as-2018-0008
  • Ehrich*, D., N.M. Schmidt*, G. Gauthier*, R. Alisauskas, A. Angerbjörn, K. Clark, F. Ecke, N.E. Eide, E. Framstad, J. Frandsen, A. Franke, O. Gilg, M.A. Giroux, H. Henttonen, B. Hörnfeldt, R.A. Ims, G.D. Kataev, S.P. Kharitonov, C.J. Krebs, S.T. Killengreen, R.B. Lanctot, N. Lecomte, I.E. Menyushina, D.W. Morris, G. Morrisson, L. Oksanen, T. Oksanen, J. Olofsson, I.G. Pokrovsky, I.Y. Popov, D. Reid, J.D. Roth, S.T. Saalfeld, G. Samelius, B. Sittler, S.M. Sleptsov, P.A. Smith, A.A. Sokolov, N.A. Sokolova, M.Y. Soloviev & D.V. Solovieva. 2020. Documenting lemming population change in the Arctic: Can we detect trends? Ambio 49:786-800. (* lead authors)
    DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01198-7
  • Fauteux, D. & G. Gauthier. 2022. Density-dependent demography and movements in a cyclic brown lemming population. Ecology and Evolution 12:e9055
    DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9055
  • Poirier, M., G. Gauthier, F. Domine & D. Fauteux. 2023. Lemming winter habitat: the quest for warm and soft snow. Oecologia 202:211–225
    DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05385-y
  • Bolduc, D., D. Fauteux, C.A. Gagnon, G. Gauthier, J. Bêty & P. Legagneux. 2023. Testimonials to reconstruct past abundances of wildlife populations. Basic and Applied Ecology 68:23-34
    DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2022.11.005
  • Gauthier, G., D. Ehrich, M. Belke-Brea, F. Domine, R. Alisauskas, K. Clark, F. Ecke, N. Eide, E. Framstad, J. Frandsen, O. Gilg, H. Henttonen, B. Hörnfeldt, G.D. Kataev, I.E. Menyushina, L. Oksanen, T. Oksanen, J. Olofsson, G. Samelius, B. Sittler, P.A. Smith, A.A. Sokolov, N.A. Sokolova & N.M. Schmidt. 2024. Taking the beat of the Arctic: are lemming population cycles changing due to winter climate? Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences 291:20232361
    DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2361
  • Valcourt, M., D. Fauteux & G. Gauthier. 2024. Influence of habitat on fine scale space use by brown lemmings in the High Arctic. Journal of Mammalogy 105:1141–1150
    DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyae069
  • Poirier, M., G. Gauthier, F. Domine & D. Fauteux. 2025. Demography of lemmings in response to changing snow conditions in the High Arctic. Ecology 106:e70216
    DOI: 10.1002/ecy.70216
  • Bolduc, D., D. Fauteux, G. Gauthier & P. Legagneux. 2025. Seasonal role of a specialist predator in rodent cycles: ermine-lemming interactions in the High Arctic. Ecology 106:e4512
    DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4512

Contributors

Gruyer, Nicolas Université Laval Bilodeau, Frédéric Université Laval Berteaux, Dominique Université du Québec à Rimouski Valcourt, Marianne Université Laval Duchesne, David Université Laval Bolduc, David Université Laval Bergeron, Gabriel Université de Sherbrooke Blanchette, Anne-Marie Université Laval Poirier, Mathilde Université Laval Gaudreau-Rousseau, Camille Université Laval Bêty, Joël Université du Québec à Rimouski

Acknowledgements

We thank Polar Knowledge Canada for funding the publication of this archive.

Version history

You can request an older version by contacting nordicana@cen.ulaval.ca

Measurement sites

Site Latitude Longitude Altitude (m)
Camp 3, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Camp 3, Bylot Island, Nunavut 73.04735 -80.07749 40 More info
Camp 2, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Camp 2, Bylot Island, Nunavut 72.88851 -79.90606 40 More info
Pointe Dufour, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Dufour Point, Bylot Island, Nunavut 72.78381 -79.53589 55 More info
Vallée Qarlikturvik, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Qarlikturvik Valley, Bylot Island, Nunavut 73.15625 -79.97187 20 More info

Supplementary material

Download

Data available for download are in ZIP format. Please properly cite the data when using it.

Snap trapping Get file
File: snap_trapping_data_1994-2019_GAUTHIER_FAUTEUX.zip Size: 152 B
Sites
Vallée Qarlikturvik, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Qarlikturvik Valley, Bylot Island, Nunavut Camp 2, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Camp 2, Bylot Island, Nunavut
Data
Lemming snap trapping 07/1994 – 07/2019
Live trapping Get file
File: live_trapping_data_2004-2024_GAUTHIER_FAUTEUX Size: 560 B
Sites
Vallée Qarlikturvik, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Qarlikturvik Valley, Bylot Island, Nunavut Camp 3, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Camp 3, Bylot Island, Nunavut Camp 2, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Camp 2, Bylot Island, Nunavut Pointe Dufour, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Dufour Point, Bylot Island, Nunavut
Data
Lemming live trapping 07/2004 – 08/2024
Winter nest Get file
File: winter_nest_data_2007-2024_GAUTHIER_FAUTEUX.zip Size: 398 B
Sites
Vallée Qarlikturvik, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Qarlikturvik Valley, Bylot Island, Nunavut Camp 3, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Camp 3, Bylot Island, Nunavut Camp 2, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Camp 2, Bylot Island, Nunavut Pointe Dufour, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Dufour Point, Bylot Island, Nunavut
Data
Lemming winter nest 06/2007 – 08/2024